The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh announced Tuesday it is offering eligible faculty and staff a voluntary retirement buyout with a one-time payment equal to 50% of an employee's annual base salary.

UW-Oshkosh becomes the third campus within the UW System to offer buyouts in an effort to reduce its workforce in the face of state budget cuts. UW-Eau Claire was the first, followed last week by UW-Superior.

UW-Oshkosh expects about 100 employees would be eligible. It has set a goal of reducing its workforce by 80 within the next three years.(16)

Alexander says decision won't deter him

St. Francis - Bucks forward Joe Alexander said he believes he has a good future in the NBA, despite not having his third-year contract option picked up by the team on Monday.

The move will make Alexander, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2008 draft, an unrestricted free agent after the current season. And it makes it quite likely he will play somewhere other than Milwaukee next season.

"This doesn't deter me at all, no way," Alexander said after the Bucks' practice session Wednesday at the Cousins Center.

"Whether or not they want me doesn't really affect how I approach my rehab or how I approach my game."

Alexander suffered a right hamstring injury during an informal workout in late September and aggravated the injury while running. On Oct. 22 the team announced he would be out from 8 to 12 weeks.

He said he has not begun running again yet, but he is doing some work on the bike and shooting.

On Monday, Bucks general manager John Hammond informed Alexander the team would not pick up his $2.76 million option for the 2010-'11 season. That made the former West Virginia star the highest pick not to have his option exercised since the current rookie-scale system was put in place in 2005.

Only two other lottery picks have not been extended in the third year - center Patrick O'Bryant, taken No. 9 by Golden State in 2006; and forward Yaroslav Korolev, drafted No. 12 by the Los Angeles Clippers in 2005.

"The opinions of the coaches here, that weighs really heavy on my mind," Alexander said. "However the rest of management, I really don't give too much thought to that."